LAWRENCE - The Kansas Jayhawks have two more chances to get what senior linebacker James Holt calls a signature win for 2008.

Harold Bechard

Tuesday

Nov 11, 2008 at 12:01 AMNov 11, 2008 at 5:00 PM

A victory over Texas this Saturday or one over Missouri on Nov. 29 would give the Jayhawks just that and would propel them into an attractive bowl game.

It will be a tough couple of tests for the beat-up Jayhawks (6-4 overall, 3-3 Big 12 North), who are 13-point underdogs heading into Saturday's 11:30 a.m. game on Fox Sports Net against the fourth-ranked Longhorns.

"Definitely, with it being senior day and getting to go against No. 4 ranked Texas, a real powerhouse team, would be great to go out and pull an upset," Holt said Tuesday. "That would be a tremendous statement for the senior class."

The Jayhawk seniors will be playing their final home game of the season and several are Texas natives. Beating one of college football's elite teams will go a long way in healing some of the wounds from last week's 45-35 loss at Nebraska.

The loss to Nebraska all but ended the Jayhawks' hopes for the Big 12 North title. They can still reach the conference championship game in Kansas City, but would need wins over both Texas and Missouri. But even then, Nebraska would be in the mix if the Huskers finish with games against Kansas State and Colorado.

But now the Jayhawks aren't thinking about Kansas City. Their only focus is the final home game of the season.

"There is a lot of history in that stadium," Holt said. "I will always remember the first game that I played in it. It will mean a lot to all of the seniors and hopefully we can play a good game and just leave it all out there and give the people a good show."

Junior quarterback Todd Reesing wasn't at full strength Tuesday. But the KU star said he'll be ready to go Saturday. After all, he will be playing against a team he grew up idolizing.

"I grew up in Austin, obviously watching the 'Horns," Reesing said. "My dad went to UT. So I would be lying if I told you it wasn't a little bit bigger for me. You got to try to not make it as big to yourself, but it is going to be fun. I grew up watching Texas and cheering for them, so now that I am playing against them it will be a lot of fun."

Reesing also admitted he took a physical beating last Saturday against Nebraska on a cold afternoon that saw him get sacked five times.

"I took quite a few hits. Some were running the ball and some were trying to throw," said Reesing, who ran the ball 16 times and completed 15 of 30 passes for 304 yards and three touchdowns. "It was a rough one, but I am no worse for the wear. I will be ready to go because I am not going to sit this one out."

Reesing, as well as anyone, knows the mark the senior class has put on the Kansas football program. He said it's up to everyone, not only the seniors, to make Saturday's game a memorable one.

"You always want to send your seniors out with a win and that is why senior day is such a big deal," Reesing said. "It is the last time you get to play at Memorial Stadium. It is going to be a crowded house and I know that everyone is going to be excited and have a positive attitude this week. We are just going to practice hard, get ready, and try to bounce back."

Defensive end John Larson, who came to KU a walk-on and became a two-year starter, will be one of those seniors playing for the final time at home.

"You walk around and everything's starting to look a little different, knowing that you aren't going to get on that field again," Larson said. "I think the whole senior class is really looking forward to this weekend."

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